Tree saplings are cultivated in Khanbogd, 108 elms planted.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (ot.mn) – The Environmental department of Oyu Tolgoi has been conducting various studies and research works in the territory of the mine since its inception in 2003 according to relevant laws and legislation of Mongolia.
Oyu Tolgoi covers all sectors across Mongolia encluding natural environment, mining, road, transportation, construction, safety and health. Special emphasis is placed on strict enforcement of relevant Mongolian laws and regulations.
One example is the Environmental department's work to turn a minimum 10 per cent of the Oyu Tolgoi mine license area into a green zone, according to relevant clauses of Mongolian laws on land, protection of natural environment.
The department is aiming to turn the pristine areas not touched by mining operations into tree groves with drop-irrigation system using elm, saxaul, tamarisk and almond trees. Oyu Tolgoi supports the initiative of Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia to celebrate a public day of tree planting, last year planting 300 tamarisk trees along dry beds of Undai river in Khanbogd soum and 264 aspen trees in the yard of office of Shaft1. The environmental department of Oyu Tolgoi set up tree sapling or forestry shop in Khanbogd soum and planted 108 elms trees.
Mark Newby, Water Resources – Principal Advisor at Oyu Tolgoi Environmental Department, said: "The very able 46-person environmental team of Oyu Tolgoi is working to ensure and monitor the implementation of Mongolian environmental laws and regulations. This team is in charge of environmental assessments and permissions, implementation of environmental laws including detailed assessment of environmental impacts of Oyu Tolgoi mine began in July 2002. Currently a total 23 environmental impact assessment reports have been approved and validated for implementation.”
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (www.ot.mn)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC is Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company and is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia (34 per cent stake), Ivanhoe Mines (66 per cent) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Ivanhoe Mines and the manager of Oyu Tolgoi. In addition to dividends from its 34 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, the Government of Mongolia will receive taxes and royalties.
Oyu Tolgoi, located in the Gobi desert in southern Mongolia, will be one of the largest and highest-grade copper and gold mines in the world. It is the largest project ever developed in Mongolia, requiring a capital investment for Phase one of more than US$6 billion.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to contributing to a sustainable future for Mongolia. At least 9 out of 10 employees will be Mongolian once the mine is in production and Oyu Tolgoi is investing US$58 million dollars (78 billion MNT) in training and education and an additional US$27 million dollars (36 billion MNT) in the Workforce Employment Project designed to help address the general skills shortage in Mongolia
Oyu Tolgoi's key priorities are the health and safety of employees, best-practice environmental management, contributing to sustainable communities and always doing business with integrity, for the benefit of all the project's shareholders and the people of Mongolia.
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